Add 1F/1D/1G to your favorite team's prospect/youth pool

[andora]

add one forward, one defenseman, and one goaltender to your favorite team's prospect or young guns pool, but it should be prospects or young players that bring a new/lacking/certain element to your team b/c they fit the team's mold, or fill a void etc..

i'll do the leafs

G - Kari Lehtonen

why - the leafs are a team built around grit, character, and leadership. with this comes a team that has to really grit out wins and work for their goals, especially in the playoffs, and when a team plays this type of game, they usually need a goaltender that can carry a huge load. toronto for awhile now has relied so heavily on their goaltenders, especially in the playoffs to keep them in the game while they work for that next goal, they did it with potvin, with cujo, and now are doing it with belfour. i chose lehtonen b/c i feel he has the potential to develop into the same type of big game workhorse, the guy that will just keep his team in it as long as possible. he's played amongst the best professionally in finland for a chunk of his career, and his numbers continually got better

Career
Season Team GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA
1998 - 1999 Jokerit C 17 0 0 0 1020 61 0 3.61
1999 - 2000 Jokerit Helsinki Junior Team 33 21 9 3 1974 86 2 2.61
2000 - 2001 Jokerit Helsinki Junior Team 31 20 9 1 1799 71 3 2.37
2000 - 2001 Jokerit Helsinki 4 3 0 0 189 6 0 1.9
2001 - 2002 Jokerit Helsinki Junior Team 6 5 1 0 360 11 1 1.83
2001 - 2002 Jokerit Helsinki 23 13 5 3 1242 37 4 1.79
2002 - 2003 Jokerit Helsinki 45 23 14 6 2635 87 5 1.98
2003 - 2004 Thrashers 4 4 0 0 239 5 1 1.25
*from atlantathrashers.com*

1999-00 Jokerit Helsinki FNL 2 0 0 0 - - - -
2000-01 Jokerit Helsinki FNL 4 0 0 0 190 0 0 0 1.90 3 1 0 0 0.937 - - - -
2001-02 Jokerit Helsinki FNL 23 0 0 2 1243 37 0 4 1.79 13 5 2 585 0.941 12 0 0 0
2002-03 Jokerit Helsinki FNL 49 0 1 16 10 0 0 12
2003-04 Chicago Wolves AHL 39 0 3 6 2192 88 0 3 2.41 20 14 2 1101 0.926 10 0 0 4
2003-04 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 4 0 0 0 239 5 0 1 1.26 4 0 0 101 0.953 - - - -
2004-05 Chicago Wolves AHL 14 0 0 0 828 34 0 2 2.46 7 6 1 415 0.924
*from hockeydb.com, this shows some sv pct*

i would add lehtonen over any other goalie prospect


D - Brooks Orpik

why - well, ofcourse the obvious 'toronto needs a mean big crease clearing defenseman', but i see more in orpik. he reminds me of an adam foote making his mark in the league, as a strictly defensive defenseman, but imo orpik has the natural ability and skills that could later turn him into something similar to what adam foote developed into. a mean rugged defense first guy, but a guy that can chip in offense and play in all situations. orpik would add something crucial to the leafs in that big body, and more importantly he's young and consistently healthy. he would take so much pressure off of aki berg, ken klee, and bryan mccabe. berg could concentrate on being a number 6, klee would have some help in the backend, and mccabe wouldn't have to worry about being an all world defensive specialist (because he can't do that )


F - Jeff Carter

why - well, i love having a team that has that one BIG centerman, not just big in aura, reputation and success, but BIG physically as well. carter is already a physical standout when you watch him play, he looks simply bigger with more poise and calmness about him compared to his opponents. he can do everything, has lots ofnatural skill for a big kid, he can skate, work, and displays leadership, almost like the calming veteran (ala nieuwendyk, or yzerman etc..) when he's on the ice. he can settle a game down, or simply bring it back to him (his team's) i would love to add carter to the depth of stajan and steen. it would give us three future solid centers, and give us strength down the middle that a successful team always needs

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[Jacob]

I'll try to refrain from making the obvious Lehtonen/Phaneuf/Ovechkin choices.

Goaltending: Cory Schneider. I'd love to just let him incubate in the NCAA for 4 years. Seeing as though "my" team, the Penguins, already have Fleury, Schneider wouldn't put any immediate strain on the amount of playing time that would need to be distributed.

Defense: A.J. Thelen. I think he would fit well amongst his fellow US collegiate counterparts already in the Penguins system.

Forward: Rob Schremp. I too, have questions about his attitude and his ability to adapt to an NHL style of game, but he could make up one half of a dangerous two-some down the middle with Malkin.

 

[andora]

actually schremp was a guy i considered for my forward as well, and found it tought narrowing it down between him, carter, and mikhail yakubov of all people :p

 

[andora]

the other goalies i considered with either ilja bryzgalov and ari ahonen, and for defenseman i was also thinking of zack fitzgerald and shea weber

 

[The Imp]

Free thought here.

The Oil has plenty of mid-range talent, need to add top-flight.

Here's HF's take on the needs for the Oil org:

1. Superstar Scoring Talent (Ovechkin)
2. Goaltending Depth for AHL (Lehtonen... sort of)
3. Stud Powerplay QB (Barker)

So... Goalie... Well, I like JDD... But if there was a season right now, I'd go with Lehtonen, too. He's just ready to go.

Dman. Barker. I've noticed the debate on Barker/Phaneuf, but the Oil's got plenty of the Phaneuf type (I know, I know, can you have too many Phaneuf types?). I'll go with Barker - the Oil needs to add a high quality offensive dman prospect at the younger end of the prospect range, and Barker just appeals to me. His scouting report includes "Last year in the playoffs he really elevated his game and played with urgency; when it counts, he shows up a little bit more."

Forward. Need a game breaker. Schremp... I LIKE him, but he's a 9C. Something a little more sure-fire is in order. Ovechkin adds that. A 9A, and he's big. Also, his skating is fantastic, but the ONE knock on him (and that's a small one) is that he has defensive lapses. The Oil has more than enough defensively talented forwards to compensate for that.

 

[Ajacied]

Goalie - With Turco handling the duties in net for maybe as much as a decade, a goalie prospect isn't exactly in the Stars needs just yet. Few prospects, if any can become what Turco is today, so I'll rather go for a save prospect with decent potential, one who would except his role as a backup but can step up to the plate when the need is there, kinda like a Ron Tugnutt. No idea which prospect fits that mold though.

Defenseman - Dion Phaneuf. Best defensive prospect in the World and while the Stars have outstanding depth at this position, they have no bonafide bluechipper with #1 potential. Hence Phaneuf, he would make the Stars defensive core complete for years to come and perfectly balancing it out in terms of puckrushers and stay at homers.

Dion Phaneuf - Johan Fransson
Trevor Daley - Mark Fistric
Nickerson/Grossman - Shawn Belle

Forward - Zach Parise. The Stars need a Modano replacement more than anything. He's 34 now and Arnott won't be around forever either. Kapanen is more of a 3rd line center and the prospects we do have at center are all mostly questionable (Naurov, Lundqvist) or lack the offensive upside (Hagos). Zach Parise is a strong two-way center, he's by no means the next Mike Modano, which I don't ever expect him to be, but he brings some potent qualities of Mike to the ice, helping to make this team contending both offensive as defensively.

 

[Legionnaire]

Toivonen

Barker

Fehr

 

[PK*]

For the Habs, I'd add Marc-André Fleury in goal (might not be as talented Lehtonen, but he'd thrive in Montreal in front of 'his' public), but I don't really think the Canadiens need a top prospect in nets right now with Theodore there for IMO at least 5 years and a few good prospects coming up (Danis, Heino-Lindberg, Halak). One of them should be the next no. 1 in Montreal once Theodore is gone.

On defense, I would add Cam Barker. The Habs will build their defense around Komisarek, Markov and Souray. They're all good on defense, they can play with an edge and they have some offensive talent, but, IMO, none of them can really be a powerplay quarterback. Barker would compliment thoe three perfectly.

On offense, I'd add Ryan Getzlaf. The Habs still lack that big, bruising center with some scoring ability to pivot the second line behind Koivu's first line.

 

[I.am.ca]

Fleury might not be as talented as Lehtonen?

Goalie: Fleury
Defenseman: Orpik
Forward: Schremp

I'm doing this for one of my other fav teams, Columbus.

 

[Vyse64]

for my beloved oilers

on D, Ryan Suter, took Suter over Barker but it was close

in net, i really like JDD, but can't go wrong with the best and thats Kari Lehtonen

on Forward, Andrei Kostsitsyn, i believe he would be perfect for the oilers

 

[Ismellofhockey]

For the Habs:

G - Fleury for reasons already mentionned.
D - Babchuk. Habs have a strong russian contingent, he's a great defenceman, he'd fit in well.
F - Stewart. Why the habs didn't move up to get him is still a wonder to me, a power forward with plenty of heart who idolized the team growing up...

For Ottawa:

G - Fleury. I just like him.
D - Green. right hand shot, good puck skills and speed, would complement our D nicely.
F - Horton. Boy would I ever love to have him as a centre.

 

[Rowley Birkin]

Without picking the most obvious, for the Sabres I'd choose...

Marc Andre Fleury - OK this one is kinda obvious, but we have Miller already {who I think is over rated BTW}

Andrej Mezsaros - We should have got him in the last draft

Tuomo Ruutu - Not sure if you can include him as a prospect, but I'd love him on my team, I think he would work well with Vanek.

 

[leafaholix*]

Going with the lesser profile guys...

G: Ray Emery
D: Shea Weber
F: Patrick O'Sullivan

 

[BlueBleeder]

For the Blues.

G- Fleury - Blues need a top flight goaltender to put the blame on when we lose in the playoffs.

D- Suter - Pair him with Jackman and enjoy for a decade.

F- Ovechkin - Blues need a top flight wing badly

 

[BuppY]

The Leafs

Goaltender: M.A. Fleury Need a franchise goalie who can steal games and win play-off series on his on!!
Defencemen: Dion Phaneuf we been dying for a Defencemen like him a long time and he would be a freat future NUMBER 1
Forward: Jeff Carter we need a Center to replace Mats and Jeff is perfect his game is very similar to Mats!!

 

[Charge_Seven]

If it could be ANYONE, I'd go with:

Lehotnen
Phaneuf
Ovechkin

That's probably the obvious choices for every team (excluding Atlanta,Calgary, and Washington who already have one of them)

Being more realistic in wishes, I'm unsure which goalie I'd covet...maybe Ari Ahonen...defenceman I'd want another big hitting defenceman, with strong defensive play to play with Carlo, in an attempt to have a Stevens-Niedermayer type pairing (don't jump on me for the comparison, I'm simply saying I'd like to have it. It'd be great to have a big grinding powerful player, combined with a skilled player at defence). For a forward after Ovechkin, I'd probably want someone from the 2003 draft, Staal, Horton, Zherdev...

 

[mazmin]

For one of my favourite teams the Preds

Phaneuf (Paired with Weber would be scary. Also have Suter-Humhuis in the mix. Could be the best blueline for a decade)

Malkin (Top notch center that is needed, goes well with Radulov and other solid wingers like Shishkanov, Upshall, etc)

Horton (Powerforward that could be #1 or #2 center or #1 or #2 winger. Depends on what Legwand does.)


*Would have grabbed a goalie like Lehtonen or Fleury but with such a solid blueline I think Vokoun would be even greater and I'm faithful Finley will pan out.

 

[Jeff Goldblum]

I'm not going to pick the obvious guys here...


For Goalie, I'd add Marek Schwarz. He'll have no pressure to develop quickly, and if he develops as he should he'd be a great goalie.

On Defense, I'd like to add Kiril Koltsov. His pure offensive skill would fit well with our future top-4. Whitney and Welch both have two way skills, Orpik is more defensive, adding an offensive guy like him would fit well i think.

As for forwards, I'd add Eric Fehr. The Pens need a top RW prospect, and Fehr certainly is that. His chemistry with current Pens prospect Ryan Stone (They are 1-2 in WHL scoring) makes this pick a pretty easy one.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Lehtonen
Hamhuis or Suter
Horton or Zherdev

 

[DownFromNJ]

Devils

Goalie - Al Montoya - Brodeur has some years left in him and Montoya should be ready for the #1 job in 5 years or so (after a few years of backup).

Defense - Ryan Suter. My favorite defensive prospect. He'll win a Norris sometime soon.

Forward - Zherdev. We need a scoring RW. Suglobov-Parise-Zherdev would be a great #1 line in the future.

 

[Jungle Boy]

G: Lehtonen
D: Baker
F: Malkin


Frolov and Malkin would be a great duo

 

[HellsBells]

but the Oil's got plenty of the Phaneuf type (I know, I know, can you have too many Phaneuf types?).

Are you serious ?? The Oilers don't have anyone close to Phaneuf. They may have some rugged D-men but nobody that plays a two-way game like Dion. You'd be fooling yourself if you think the Oilers have anyone in their system that plays like Dion Phaneuf.

Anyway, my choices would be:

Goalie: Montoya - This kid is going to be crazy good IMO.

D-man: Barker - Since the Flames already have Phaneuf, I'd take Barker next.

Forward: Richards - He is far from the best player out there but he is a typical Calgary Flames type player. I've always liked him as a player.

 

[Meat Wave]

Montreal Canadiens

Goalthender: Kari Lehtonen (obvious choice)

Forward: Nathan Horton

Defenceman: Ryan Suter

 

[PanthersRule96]

FLA:

We don't really need a goalie, but I'd take a guy like Cam Ward or someone like that as someone like Lehtonen would be challenging Luongo right away. Schwarz maybe as well or Montoya as someone who would take 4 years to develop or so.

Defense:
Phaneuf or Suter. Phaneuf would be the best as we need a physical stud bruiser, although I don't know how Phaneuf and Olesz would get along

Forward:
Alexander Ovechkin- what a surprise. This guy is so so amaizing. He does absolutely everything. There's not a single prospect or young player out there that can do as much as AO at the same level. He's a scoring forward and FLA needs them. Zherdev would be nice too as well as Malkin. But AO is in another league compared to most other prospects.

 

[s7ark]

I'll stay away from the big three for my Oilers, they are too obvious

D - Mezaros - I love this kids game. He will be a player
F - Crosby. No doubt. If he doesn't count then Malkin.
G - We already have JDD whom I really like, but that Fleury kid looks to be a force too. If I am skipping Lehtonen then I'll go with Fleury.